Villa Balbianello - A wonderful Lake Como Landmark

Villa del Balbianello (also known as Villa Balbianello) is an 18th century lakeside villa in the small wooded peninsula in Dosso d'Avedo, Lenno on the western shore branch of Lake Como. The villa is one of the most charming attractions in the region and draws many visitors. While its beautiful buildings offer great views of the lake, the landmark villa's claim to fame is the garden on the grounds.

The garden has pruned trees in various fun shapes and statues that keep visitors spellbound. It also has nice lawns and hedges that create a beautiful atmosphere. Here, wonderful sights of Isola Comacina (the lake's only island) and unique views of the lake await you. There's no better place around Lake Como to relax as you watch time go by.

The villa is one of many beautiful Lake Como villas open for tours. These villas are the main reason the region is so popular so while you're in the Lake Como area, you should consider visiting at least three of these. However, if you only have time to visit one, it should be Villa del Balbianello.

History

The villa is on the site of a former monastery. Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini bought the property in 1785 and changed it to a villa in 1787. He added the loggia while he owned the villa and often hosted social events there.

After the cardinal’s death, it was inherited by his nephew, Luigi Porro Lambertenghi. Lambertenghi hosted social events at the villa and invited Italian poet Silvio Pellico to tutor his sons there. Pellico was arrested at the villa by the Austrian government in 1820.

Over the years, the villa changed hands many times, with each owner adding to its appeal. One of the owners was American businessman Butler Ames. Ames liked the villa so much that he kept increasing the offer price until he bought it in 1919. Italian explorer Guido Monzino purchased it in 1974. He was the last private owner.

Monzino placed many artifacts from his expeditions in the villa. These created a unique blend of history and adventure within its walls.

The Current Use And Ownership

Villa del Balbianello is now managed by FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the National Trust for Italy). FAI took ownership via Guido Monzino's will in 1988. It is now open for self-tours and guided tours. The villa is also often used as a venue for private events, including movies and weddings.

Why Visit Villa del Balbianello?

There are many reasons to visit. First, Villa del Balbianello is located right by the lake, providing great views from the gardens.

Secondly, it's a piece of Italian history, containing many items left by the previous owner, Count Guido Monzino. Monzino was known to be quite the adventurer. He led the first Italian Expedition to climb Mount Everest and many of his possessions are still in the museum on the property.

Movie buffs (mostly Star Wars and James Bond fans) will be happy to know that the villa was featured in one film in each movie series.

Buildings Within the Property

In addition to the villa and the Museum of Expeditions, there are other buildings on the property worth exploring. The first is The Orangery, where you'll often find a film about Guido Monzino playing.

The Loggia Durini offers stunning views of the lake and a sneak peek of the book-lined rooms in the interior of the villa.

Last of all, you'll find the old chapel close to the lake. Now used as a gift shop, you can purchase refreshments, crafts and souvenirs from other FAI properties.

The Garden

The garden is one of the best around Lake Como. It features many beautiful sculptures and various plants and flowers, including nicely pruned shrubs. It also has nicely maintained lawns that invite visitors to explore the grounds.

One of the biggest draws of the garden is its views of Lake Como. If you're lucky, you may even find some quiet spots to enjoy the vast expanse of the lake and the hills surrounding it. You'll need to carefully choose when you visit the villa to ensure you enjoy this privilege.

Opening Periods & Times

The villa is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (excluding Mondays and Wednesdays) throughout the year except February.

A Popular Wedding Venue

It's no surprise that the villa is a much sought-after wedding venue. Many wedding planners in Italy and beyond offer packages to make a wedding at the villa memorable. If you plan to get married here, consider arriving in style in a Riva boat, as nothing goes better with Lake Como than these boats.

The iconic Italian boats are also the best option to get your guests to the villa. You can choose from many operators who offer Riva boat rides. You can also leave this to your wedding planner, who will likely know the best option.

Movies with scenes at Villa del Balbianello

The villa is such a beautiful location that a few movies have featured it. Movies with scenes at the villa include the James Bond movie 'Casino Royal,' which featured a scene with 007 recovering from an encounter with the movie's villain.

It was also featured as the venue of Anakin Skywalker's wedding in George Lucas' 'Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones'. Another movie with scenes at the villa is the 1995 romantic comedy 'A Month by the Lake' starring Uma Thurman.

Ways to get to the villa

There are two ways to get to Villa del Balbianello: on foot (after a private car or bus ride) or by boat.

On Foot

Free parking is available in Parcheggio Mercato on Via Comoedia, a 25-minute (1.2km) walk (with slopes) from the villa. Due to large crowds, parking spaces tend to fill up quickly in the summer. For a bit of calorie-burning fun, you can take a bus from Como to Lenno Campo. From here, you can walk to the villa in 20 minutes. You should only consider this if you enjoy hiking.

By Boat

Take a taxi boat or private boat from Lido di Lenno or any other city around Lake Como. A private boat will offer the best experience as it allows you to choose your itinerary and explore the lake in its full glory. Many private boat tours also offer stopovers at other high-profile Lake Como villas. In addition, unlike the bus or car ride, the boat will take you right to the villa (no hiking required).

The Best Time To Visit Villa del Balbianello

The best period of the year to visit the villa is spring or fall. Both locals and tourists flock to the area during the summer, so visiting during that period of the year means you're likely to share the place with large crowds.

 

 

Alice Graves

Alice is a Fortloc contributor for motorsport and travel